peatt



NPETERS. PHOTOALITHOGRAPHER wASHlNGToN D c ST E g A ENCE.

E. L. PRATT, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO I-IIMSELF AND R.B. FITTS, OF SAME PLACE.

MEAT-SAFE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 25,165, dated August 16, 1859'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. L. PRATT, of the city of Philadelphia, in theState of Penn- Sylvania, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus forPreserving and Protecting Fresh Meat and other Similar Articles of Food;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the construction and operation of the same, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification,in which- Figure l is a vertical, and Fig. 2 a horizontal section (onthe line y of F ig. l) of the same-like letters in both figuresindicating the same parts.

My invention has for its object the exposure of fresh meat, and othersimilar articles of food, to a free circulation of cool, fresh air,while it is at the same time perfectly protected from exposure to theunfavorable influences of light and heat, and from the depredations ofanimals, vermin or insects.

It consists in the combined arrangement, as hereinafter described, of aclose cover, perforated with numerous small holes at or near its upperpart; and a stand or horizontal platform, likewise perforated withnumerous small holes and supported at a short distance above the groundor floor of a cellar, spring house, pantry, or other suitable apartmentfor storing food) in such a manner as to subject the contents of thesame to a free circulation of the lowest and coolest portion of the airof the said apartment.

The drawings represent a portable form of my improved apparatus-A, beingthe cover; and B, the stand or platform. The cover (A) is open belowand, in this instance, is provided with a communicating tube c, above,which serves for a handle, the same being covered at its upper end witha disk CZ, perforated with numerous small holes, or with ne wire-gauze,so as to preclude the entrance of the smallest insects, and yet allowthe passage of air or gases freely through the same. The stand orplatform (B) is, in this instance, constructed of tinned plate, and hasa raised edge e, for keeping the cover (A) in place thereon. It is alsoprovided with a circular series of large holes, each covered with araised disk f, perforated with numerous small holes so as to precludethe entrance of the smallest insects and at the same time allow externalair to pass upward freely through themthe said platform being providedwith legs g-g, so as to support it clear of the floor or ground. f ihedisks (f) are arranged, in this instance,

1n a circular series, for the purpose ofv leaving a level central-part,7b, upon which to set a plate or cup containing the article to bepreserved; but, it is also provided with a removable trivet z',consisting of a grating or wire net-work supported by legs, at a shortdistance above the perforations so that fresh meat, and such otherarticles, may be laid directly thereon and thus exposed on bot-h sides,to the fresh air-in which case the whole area of the platform may, veryproperly, be perforated, or even composed of fine wire gauze. Hooks c-c,may be attached above, to serve the same purpose as the trivet, inexposing all sides of meat to the air. I wish it to be distinctlyunderstood that I do not propose to confine this combined cover andstand to the material, form or constructionjust specified, but to useany suitable material, and construct it of any form or dimensions thateither a portable or stationary requirement may render proper providedthe principle is preserved of a cover perforated above, in combinationwith a perforated supporting platform raised sufliciently from the flooror ground of the apartment containing it to allow the cool, fresh air topass upward through it, substantially as described.

The influence of light, heat and confined air in hastening thedecomposition of fresh meat, and other similar articles of food, is wellknown; and it is also well known that the nearer to the floor or bottomof a cellar, spring house, or pantry the cooler will the air be found.Consequently it will be perceived that the present invention isadmirably adapted to the purpose for which it is proposed-being proofagainst the entrance of vermin or insects, adapted for the thoroughexposure of its contents to a free circulation of fresh, cool air, andat the same time precluding the entrance of light.

Having received a patent, dated the 29th day of March, 1859, for animproved milkvessel-consisting of a pan and cover so constructed andcombined together as to take in air at its sides and discharge it at itstop-I therefore do not herein claim forated with small holes at theupper part, 10 such an apparatus; but d, and a stand, B, also perforatedWith Having fully described and pointed out small holes, f,substantially as and for the the peculiarities of the present invention,purpose specified. what I claim therein as neW'of my invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is, Witnesses:

A new article of manufacture, being a BENJ. MORRISON, combinedarrangement of a cover, A, per- R. F. SHATTUOK.

E. L. PRATT.

